On Friday, December 9, the French Air and Space Academy awarded its Grand Prix 2022 to Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, “for his remarkable career as an engineer and manager who has dedicated his career to the development of the French and European aeronautical industry.

The ceremony took place at the Capitole in Toulouse, during a formal public session of the Academy.

In his acceptance speech, Eric Trappier said: “It is not my career at Dassault that you are rewarding tonight, but Dassault Aviation through the career of one of its own. It is the teams around me, the engineers, technicians and workers in our factories, their skills, passion and commitment, a century of accumulated experience and innovation, an exemplary industrial and patriotic epic, that your Academy is paying tribute to.

The Air and Space Academy is composed of members who hold or have held significant responsibilities in their respective fields related to aeronautics and space.

From a wide variety of backgrounds, engineers, industrialists, researchers, managers, pilots, astronauts, doctors, lawyers, economists, journalists, writers and artists all work together.

They constitute a pool of knowledge unique in Europe aimed at promoting and furthering the development of high quality scientific, technical, cultural and human activities in the fields of Air and Space.

With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,500 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets, military drones and space systems.

In 2021, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €7.2 billion. The company has 12,400 employees.